I think mine is a little barn sour and I will not see him for another 3 weeks does anyone have any advice?
He is a 6 year old Paint Horse I have had this problem the past 2 summers when I have been on brake and have time to actually ride him. He rares and tries to run back to the barn??
He is a 6 year old Paint Horse I have had this problem the past 2 summers when I have been on brake and have time to actually ride him. He rares and tries to run back to the barn??
Barn sour is just another meaning for a horse that isn't being ridden by an active rider. Lemme 'splain!
He reacts to his natural instincts that say "safety with the herd"
Then you react to him and he reacts even more to his instinct because now you're part of the problem...you are just pulling on the reins, kicking or otherwise just arguing with him....which he doesn't understand....he just feels pressure from his emotions and now, physical pressure from you....that means nothing to him except that now you're part of the pressure....
1) stop fighting with him. nevermind what you don't want him to do. focus on what you do want him to do.
2) give him something useful to focus on. horses can only think of one thing at a time. stop reacting to him and take the lead. be a leader. that means being an active rider.
3) practice bending exercises. Like serpentines. serpentine him away from the barn. practice one rein stops on your way back to the barn.
4) NEVER go faster than a walk when returning to the barn. If you have trouble, then one rein stops all the way back.
One rein stop:
pick up one rein and bend the head around to your stirrup and get the hip (same rein/same hip) to move over...means that the back feet cross. The hip is the important part. soon as the horse stops all four feet after he's crossed his hind feet...release the rein and let him sit there for a moment. then repeat. go forward and do each step.
Serpentines:
same as one rein stop except when he bends and crosses his back feet (hip moves left if you pick up the right rein for example) you drive him into the turn. it's a "deep" turn and you give him a release of the rein there. not waiting for him to stop.
Focus on what you DO want him to do. Give him a job. Don't argue. Don't fight. Don't pull and hold (the worst thing you can do is use two reins and pull back). Be active not reactive. Be productive. This is the only way to "cure" this.
It isn't about your horse, it's about you. He's got too much time to think of other things other than you and that's your responsibility to change, not his. He can only follow. He can only reflect your leadership or lack of.
P.S. please don't listen to the martingale idea. That's just trying to force the horse to submit by using a "band-aid" that can make things worse. Also, tying him won't change your riding habits. That's just not going to fix the real issue...which is...that you need to be an active rider.
He reacts to his natural instincts that say "safety with the herd"
Then you react to him and he reacts even more to his instinct because now you're part of the problem...you are just pulling on the reins, kicking or otherwise just arguing with him....which he doesn't understand....he just feels pressure from his emotions and now, physical pressure from you....that means nothing to him except that now you're part of the pressure....
1) stop fighting with him. nevermind what you don't want him to do. focus on what you do want him to do.
2) give him something useful to focus on. horses can only think of one thing at a time. stop reacting to him and take the lead. be a leader. that means being an active rider.
3) practice bending exercises. Like serpentines. serpentine him away from the barn. practice one rein stops on your way back to the barn.
4) NEVER go faster than a walk when returning to the barn. If you have trouble, then one rein stops all the way back.
One rein stop:
pick up one rein and bend the head around to your stirrup and get the hip (same rein/same hip) to move over...means that the back feet cross. The hip is the important part. soon as the horse stops all four feet after he's crossed his hind feet...release the rein and let him sit there for a moment. then repeat. go forward and do each step.
Serpentines:
same as one rein stop except when he bends and crosses his back feet (hip moves left if you pick up the right rein for example) you drive him into the turn. it's a "deep" turn and you give him a release of the rein there. not waiting for him to stop.
Focus on what you DO want him to do. Give him a job. Don't argue. Don't fight. Don't pull and hold (the worst thing you can do is use two reins and pull back). Be active not reactive. Be productive. This is the only way to "cure" this.
It isn't about your horse, it's about you. He's got too much time to think of other things other than you and that's your responsibility to change, not his. He can only follow. He can only reflect your leadership or lack of.
P.S. please don't listen to the martingale idea. That's just trying to force the horse to submit by using a "band-aid" that can make things worse. Also, tying him won't change your riding habits. That's just not going to fix the real issue...which is...that you need to be an active rider.
Experience fixing problems
You do not need different equipment all you need is to ride more often. To break this you need to work the horse. If he tries to go back to his buddy let him then work him do circles , figure 8's, whatever just keep him moving. Then ask him to leave his buddy again and take him a bit away and just sit there, if he acts up and goes back work him some more. You want him to learn that being with the buddy means work. When away from the buddy he can rest. This works. My neighbor up the rode had me help her last weekend. Her horse would crow hop and rear when away from the other horses. Worked the horse for about 15 min. and then took him on the trail after he stopped and rode for about 2 hours until he was nice and tired. She has been riding him every other day and said he isn't acting up at all.
your horse is hugely barn sour. it's normal for a horse to be a little resistant to leaving his/her buddies, but they should still respond to your request and feel comfortable and look forward to your adventure.
for a while, trailer him out to ride different trails. he will be unfamiliar with the area and will have to rely on you for guidance and direction in order to get back to the trailer and get home.
if you are riding him to and from the barn, on your return trip, ride him past the point that you normally stop at and if possible, go right past the barn. if he rushes or tries to turn around urge him on even further. you go home when you are ready to go home. make the right thing easy and the wrong thing very very difficult. this gives him the message that he will get there eventually, but his hurrying will only slow things.
he's going to be considerably worse when you get back from your hiatus. if you can, find someone who is trustworthy and experienced enough to take him out so that he doesn't regress.
for a while, trailer him out to ride different trails. he will be unfamiliar with the area and will have to rely on you for guidance and direction in order to get back to the trailer and get home.
if you are riding him to and from the barn, on your return trip, ride him past the point that you normally stop at and if possible, go right past the barn. if he rushes or tries to turn around urge him on even further. you go home when you are ready to go home. make the right thing easy and the wrong thing very very difficult. this gives him the message that he will get there eventually, but his hurrying will only slow things.
he's going to be considerably worse when you get back from your hiatus. if you can, find someone who is trustworthy and experienced enough to take him out so that he doesn't regress.
Try this...
Tie him up to a post for 10mins somewhere away from the barn and his friends.
The next day tie him up for 20 mins. The next day 30. The next 40 etc etc until he is ok with being away from his mates.
P.s make sure you can keep and eye on him while he is tied up!!
Hope I helped!!
Tie him up to a post for 10mins somewhere away from the barn and his friends.
The next day tie him up for 20 mins. The next day 30. The next 40 etc etc until he is ok with being away from his mates.
P.s make sure you can keep and eye on him while he is tied up!!
Hope I helped!!
experience
if you are riding when this happens then you need to slow him when approaching the barn
a lot of horse will "run home" when they see the barn or there heard they get excited you just need to slow him and get him to move faster away from the barn try breaking him to the walk when facing the barn
help with mine pleas
http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/question/ind...
a lot of horse will "run home" when they see the barn or there heard they get excited you just need to slow him and get him to move faster away from the barn try breaking him to the walk when facing the barn
help with mine pleas
http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/question/ind...
I've had this problem too after some time off from riding.
I spend a couple weeks or so reviewing ground work/manners, longeing and take him for walks.
The day I ride, I longe him a bit then off we go and if he balks, I just make him go.
I spend a couple weeks or so reviewing ground work/manners, longeing and take him for walks.
The day I ride, I longe him a bit then off we go and if he balks, I just make him go.
No, he needs to figure it out without help. Wear a martingale and kick him on. Don't let him rear and DONT LET HIM BACK TO THE BARN. Just be firm.
you should work a little bit on making him leave the barn himself
if you can get someone to ride his friend with you until he knows where hes going then make him go by himself.
if you can get someone to ride his friend with you until he knows where hes going then make him go by himself.
my horse super attached to our pony
well, it sounds like he is
you should be working him atleast 3 days a week if u have no time im sure u can find someone to excersie him for free,
you should be working him atleast 3 days a week if u have no time im sure u can find someone to excersie him for free,
yes sounds as if he is barn sour.
he needs to be worked more often.
he needs to be worked more often.